AOPA Air Safety Institute Issues Annual Safety Report
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute has released the twenty-fourth edition of the Joseph T. Nall Report, general aviation’s (GA) most comprehensive safety review.
This most recent report provides an in-depth analysis of accidents that occurred in 2012, 96 percent of which had a probable cause assigned by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). ASI has also prepared a brief statistical analysis of GA accidents in calendar years 2013 and 2014, most of which have preliminary NTSB accident reports.
2012 Report Highlights
- There were 17 percent fewer GA accidents in 2012 than in 2011
- 75 percent of the GA fixed-wing accidents were attributed to pilot-related causes, continuing the pattern that has characterized this sector for years
- Accidents attributed to fuel management issues (starvation, exhaustion, and contamination) were the cause of 79 accidents, the second-lowest number on record
- The report includes ASI’s first-ever analysis of the causes of helicopter accidents
2013 /2014 Scorecard Highlights
- In 2013, the number of GA fixed-wing accidents decreased by an unprecedented 18 percent from the year before, falling below 1,000 per year for the first time. This improvement continued in 2014 with 923 total accidents, an all-time low
- The number of fatal accidents fell 24 percent from 2012 to 2013. While this was followed by a 12 percent increase in 2014, these remain the only two years in the past half-century with fewer than 200 fatal accidents in light airplanes per year
- The GA fatal accident rate dropped below 1.00 per 1000,000 flight hours for the first time ever in 2013. Federal Aviation Administration estimates of GA flight time confirm that the accident rate improvements in 2013 did not result from decreased activity
AOPA’s Air Safety Institute is dedicated exclusively to providing continuing pilot education and safety programs for general aviation. It is funded by donations from individual pilots and organizations, which support the cause of improved general aviation safety. Since 1950, ASI has served all pilots and aviation enthusiasts—not just AOPA members—by providing free safety education, research, and data analysis. ASI offers award-winning online courses, nearly 200 live seminars annually throughout the U.S., flight instructor refresher courses, safety videos, accident case studies, and other materials to keep pilots safe and well informed. To learn more, visit ASI at www.airsafetyinstitute.org.
ABOUT AOPA
Since 1939, AOPA has protected the freedom to fly for thousands of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. AOPA is the world’s largest aviation member association, with representatives based in Frederick, Md., Washington, D.C., Wichita, Kans., and seven regions across the United States. AOPA provides member services that range from advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services, flight planning products, safety programs and award-winning media. To learn more, visit www.aopa.org.
